HEREFORD TAKEN: A copy OF colonel MORGANS Letter of the storming of Hereford; With the manner of the Fight, and taking of the Town and Garrison, on Thursday morning last, Decemb. 18. 1645.  
Wherein was taken, The governor of the town, four Lords, twenty Knights, colonels, and Majors; one hundred Captains, Lieutenants, Cornets, and ensigns; 100 Centlemen and inferior Officers; many Papists, 500 Prisoners, many slain, 1000 arms, 20 Barrels of Gunpowder, 11. pieces of Ordnance. A great quantity of provisions, and all their q●g and baggage.  
LONDON, Printed for Jane Coe▪ 1645.   

THE HAPPY news of the taking of HEREFORD, On Thursday last by colonel MORGAN.  
A copy of colonel MORGANS Letter.  
SIR,  
IT hath pleased God exceedingly to bless my proceedings, in giving a blessed success to my endeavours, in the taking of this Garrison, though with great difficulty in regard ●… f the season of the year, and the deepness ●… f the snow, which was above a foot thick, my forces consisted of a 110. Horse and foot, and Birches forces of 900. foot, which being joined upon monday, we marched from gloucester and thought to have reached Hereford that night, but our Footesouldiers were so much fpent by that time we came within 6. Miles of Hereford, that they were able to march no farther, so we were constrained to draw back towards gloucester; that the enemy here should take the less notice of any design, upon Wednesday night we marched towards it again, and drew up our forees within musket shot of the town under an hill, about an hour before day, on Thursday: and before Sunriseing made our attempt with good effect for us with very small loss, divers of the enemy were slain in the street and the rest taken prisoners; we have already in custody 120. Lords, Knights, and Officers, in commission, who are to be sent to gloucester, the most of them are papists, for common prisoners. I am not able as to give a true list, nor of our arms, only 11. pieces of Ordinance, and a reasonable quantity of all sorts of Ammunition. Captain Temple had the honour to command the forlorn Hope of Horse, and behaved himself very gallantly. By this the Popes rest in Hereford is spoyled, which is all for this time, hoping to give you a full relation by the next and do remain  
Sir  
The manner of the taking of Hereford; was thus, That colonel Morgan the governor of Gloucester, having received orders for the taking of Hereford Garrison, he had correspondency with colonel Birch to join their forces together; for the famed Col. Birch with 900 foot came to Gloucester to Col. Morgan, who drew out all their forces out of Gloucester on monday the 15. of December, their whole body consisting of 2000 Horse and foot, 110 of Col. Morgans, and 900 foot of Col. Birches: they marched out early in the morning intending to have reached some good quarters that night about Hereford, to have laid ready for action that night, but the extremity of the weather was so hard, that they marched with much difficulty, by reason of the extremity of Frost and Snow that hindered them: for the horse did not only march very difficult was by reason of the Ice, and also of the Snow and season of the yeeres, but the poor Foot had so hard a march of it, that they could not reach so far as they intended: for the Snow was not only a foot deep in their ordinary way, burr in some places they could not pass till the Snow was shovelled out of the way before them, in pits and deep places; sometime the Ice also was very dangerous both to horse and foot, and in their ordinary march they went up to the knees in Snow so that that night, though with all the labour and pains they could attain, they could not get soon enough to attempt any thing before the enemy had drawn ●y their drawn up their draw bridge and secured themselves, yet the souldiers were very resolute, and did as much as could be expected on their part, and we very sorry that they could not accomplish their desires as was intended▪ but still proceeded in the design with all care till they had effected it: but the honestnesse of the souldiers was such that they much wearied and tired themselves in their march, and would fain have got to Hereford, but could not.  
On that night they came within about six miles of Hereford, but were so tired, that they could march to further which possessed our friends with some fear that they might be discovered to the enemy, and so the design hindered; but it was carried out with such discretion, that the enemy had no knowledge of them brought to Hereford, till they were surprised in their quarters, and that night they withdrew something back towards gloucester, not holding it secure to lye too near Hereford.  
On Tuesday they sent out Scouts to see if any thing were discovered, as also to fetch in prov●sion to furnish their Soldiers knapsacks; and seeing the difficulty of the work, took counsel what to do for the better s●curitie in the accomplishing thereof: which before all things could be accomplished with discretion to perfect the design with best advantage, they were constrained not to march on till Wednesday. On Wednesday toward; night they marched again towards Herefo●d, intending to try if they could take it next morning, and so ordered it, that the enemy might draw up the bridge, and lye secure in the town, before our men approached, lest some or other should carry the news into Hereford, to discover them to the governor.  
During this time of their lying at distance, the country thought they had been designed for the strengthening of the siege before Chester, upon the occasion of that party that was gone from Oxford, Banbury, and those parts for the relief of Chester.  
That night colonel Morgan drew up his Forces within Musket shot of their works at Hereford, and quartered behind a hill which is on one side of the Town, so that the enemy could no, discover them there, either by the light of the Moon, or the next morning before the design was put in execution, considerine that to be the best place of advantage for the acting of the business. When our men were settled about an hour before break of day the next morning; where they having marched all that night and were very weary, yet neglected no opportunity to prosecute the design, wherein every one in their proper place acted with much gallantry, to have all things in a readidesse, and perfect the accomplishment of the taking in of Herd, and accordingly God gave them a good success.  
On Tuesday before Sunriseing, colonel Morgan sent out 6. gallant resolute men, one of them pretended to be the high Constable, with a warrant from the governor of Hereford; for the bringing in of men to break up the Ice in the ways, and after then captain Temple marched with a party of horse on the forelorn hope: and at the letting down of the Bridge, the pretended high Constable with his bill on his shoulder, and the rest with Shovels, Spades, and Pickaxes, went to the draw Bridge which was let down, and 2. Centinells set to keep it, the high Constable got away over the Bridge; and with his Bill slay one of them, and after the other sentinel was slain, by which they gained that service, then captain Temple came up wit● his forlorn hope, and after him ●he rest, in the mean time captain Temple fought gallantly so long till he had his horse ●wice ●hot under him, and his ●word broken almost to the very hil●; many of the enenies slain in the street, and the rest taken prisoners; some fled to the market place, and maintained that a while, but in short time colonel Morgan had a complete victory, and the souldiers good store of plunder in the Town.  

A List of what was taken in Hereford by Colonel Morgan, on Thursday the 21. of Decemb. 1645  
THe governor of the town.  
four Lords.  
Twenty Knights, Colonels, and Majors.  
One hundred Captaines, Lieutenants, Cornets, and ensigns.  
One hundred Gentlemen, and Jnferior Officers.  
Many Papists. Five hundred Prisoners. Many slain  
One thousand arms.  
Twenty Barrels of Gun-powder.  
Eleven pieces of Ordnance,  
Good store of other Ammunition.  
A great quantity of Provision.  
And all their Bag and Baggage,   
FINIS.